"Christ died for the ungodly..." Romans 5:6

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Romans 5

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
_______ 




"Verse 1: Therefore having been declared righteous on the principle of faith—

We must note at once that the Greek form of this verb “declared righteous,” or “justified,” is not the present participle, “being declared righteous,” but rather the aorist participle, “having been declared righteous,” or “justified.” You say. What is the difference? The answer is, “being declared righteous” looks to a state you are in; “having been declared righteous” looks back to a fact that happened. “Being in a justified state” of course is incorrect, confusing, as it does, justification and sanctification.
“Whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever.”
The moment you believed, God declared you righteous, never to change His mind: as David says,
“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin” (Rom. 4:8).
If therefore you are a believer, quote this verse properly, and say, “Having been declared righteous on the principle of faith I have”—these blessed fruits and results which are now to be recorded.

The Epistle takes on a new aspect in each chapter: in Chapter Three, Christ was set forth as a propitiation for our sins; in Chapter Four, Christ was raised for our justification; in Chapter Five, we have peace with God through Christ, a standing in grace, and the hope of the coming glory.

We have three blessings, then, in this first part of our chapter: (1) peace with God, in looking back to Calvary where Christ made peace by His blood; (2) a present standing in grace, in unlimited Divine favor; and (3) hope of the glory of God—of being glorified with Christ when He comes.

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ—“Peace” means that the war is done. “Peace with God” means that God has nothing against us. This involves:

1. That God has fully Judged sin, upon Christ, our Substitute.

2. That God was so wholly satisfied with Christ’s sacrifice, that He will eternally remain so—never taking up the judgment of our sin again.

3. That God is therefore at rest about us forever, however poor our understanding of truth, however weak our walk. God is looking at the blood of Christ, and not at our sins. All claims against us were met when
Christ “made peace by the blood of His cross.”
So
“we have peace with God.”*
[*As to the Greek text having the subjunctive in verse 1, we believe that the Authorized Version and the American Revised Version are correct in reading “we have peace” rather than the English Revised Version, “Let us have peace.” See Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Darby, Meyer, Godet and many others. The whole context proves that “we have peace” is correct, for the passage is not an exhortation, but an assertion of facts and results, true of all those declared righteous or justified.]

“If Thou hast my discharge procured,
And freely in my place endured
The whole of wrath Divine:
Payment God will not twice demand,
First at my bleeding Surety’s hand,
And then again at mine!”

Our peace with God is not as between two nations before at war, but as between a king and rebellious and guilty subjects. While our hearts are at last at rest, it is because God, against whom we sinned, has been fully satisfied at the cross.
“Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
does not mean peace through what He is now doing, but through what He did do on the Cross. He “made peace” by the blood of His cross. All the majesty of God’s holy and righteous throne was satisfied when Christ said,
“It is finished.”
And, being now raised from the dead,
“He is our peace.”
But it is His past work at Calvary, not His present work of intercession, that all is based upon; and that gives us a sense of the peace which He made through His blood.*

[*The Romanist will go to “mass” and “confession”; and the Protestant “attend church”; but neither will find peace with God by these things. Prayers, vows, fastings, church duties, charities—what have these to do with peace?—if Christ “made Peace by His blood”!]

This peace with (or towards) God must not be confused with the “peace of God” of Philippians 4:7, which is a subjective state; whereas peace with God is an objective fact—outside of ourselves. Thousands strive for inward peace, never once resting where God is resting—in the finished work of Christ on Calvary.*

[*The difference may be brought out by asking ourselves two questions: First. Have I peace with God? Yes; because Christ died for me. Second, Have I the peace of God in quietness from the anxieties and worries of life in my heart? We see at once that being at peace with God must depend on what was done for us by Christ on the cross. It is not a matter of experience, but of revelation. On the contrary, the peace of God “sets a garrison around our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus,” when we refuse to be anxious about circumstances, and “in everything (even the most ‘trifling’ affairs) by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto God.” Every ‘believer is at peace with God, because of Christ’s shed blood. Not every believer has this “peace of God” within him; for not all have consented to judge anxious care and worry as unbelief in God’s Fatherly kindness and care.]

“I hear the words of love,
I gaze upon the blood;
I see the mighty Sacrifice,
And I have peace with God.

“ ’Tis everlasting peace,
Sure as Jehovah’s name;
’Tis stable as His stedfast throne,
For evermore the same.

“My love is oftimes low,
My joy still ebbs and flows;
But peace with Him remains the same,
No change Jehovah know.

*   *   *

“I change, He changes not,
God’s Christ can never die;
His love, not mine, the resting-place,
His truth, not mine, the tie.”

—(Bonar)

Verse 2: Look a moment at the second benefit: Through whom also we have had our access into this grace wherein we stand—

The word “also” sets this blessing forth as distinct from and additional to that of peace with God. Through Christ, in whom they have believed, there has been given to the justified “access” into a wonderful standing in Divine favor. Being in Christ, they have extended to them the very favor in which Christ Himself stands. Notice that the words “by faith” (as in A.V.) here should be omitted. It is not by an additional revelation, and acceptance thereof, that believers come into this standing in grace. It is a place of Divine favor given to every believer the moment he believes. In Chapter 6:14 we are to be told that we are under grace, not law. It is a glorious discovery to find how fully God is for us, in Christ.*

[*Sanday quotes Ellicott’s translation: “Through whom also we have had our access,” and adds, “‘have had’ when we first became Christians, and now while we are such.”
  
       And Darby comments: “We are not called on to believe that we do believe, but to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, by whom we have access, and are brought into perfect present favor, every cloud that could hide God’s love removed; and can rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”]

Now, as to this third great matter: We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This is the future of the believer: to enter upon a glorified state, glorified together with Christ, as it is in Chapter 8:17. It is not merely to behold God’s glory, but to enter into it!
“When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall we also with Him be manifested in glory” (Col. 3:4).
“The glory which thou has given Me I have given unto them” (John 17:22).
We shall speak of this further, in its place in Chapter Eight. The translation “exult” rather than “glory,” or “boast,” suits Paul’s meaning here. So in the next verse, we exult in our tribulations. It is an inner, joyful confidence, rather than an outward glorying or boasting before others, although this latter will often necessarily follow!

Verses 3 and 4: And not only so, but we also exult in the tribulations [which beset us]: knowing that tribulation is working out endurance: and endurance [a sense of] approvedness [by God]; and [the sense of] approvedness works out a state of hope—

So now we find that not only does the believer look back to peace made with God at the cross; at a God smiling upon him in favor; and forward to his coming glorification with Christ, but he is able also to exult in the very tribulations that are appointed to him. Paul constantly taught, as in Acts 14:22; II Thessalonians 3:3, that “through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God,” and that “we are appointed unto afflictions.” The word means pressure, straits, difficulties; and Paul had them! “Pressed on every side, perplexed, pursued, smitten down”; “in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; by evil report, . . . as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful,—yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things!” (II Cor. 4:8, 9; 6:4-10). He regarded these as “our light affliction” said he, “which is for the moment, and is working for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory,” (II Cor. 4:17); and so Paul “took pleasure” in them! (II Cor. 12:10).

We need to take a lesson from the martyrs, who lived in the freshness and strength of the early faith of the Church of God, who often sang in the midst of the flames! We hear today of Just the same courage where persecution and trial are greatest. We can but give here a testimony from Russia that will reach all our hearts. It is a classic on suffering for Christ’s sake.

The Divine process is as follows: God brings us into tribulations, and that of all sorts; graciously supplying therewith a rejoicing expectation of deliverance in due time; and the knowledge that, as the winds buffeting some great oak on a hillside cause the tree to thrust its roots deeper into the ground, so these tribulations will result in steadfastness, in faith and patient endurance; and our consciousness of steadfastness—of having been brought ‘by grace through the trials,—gives us a sense of Divine approval, or approvedness, we did not before have; and which is only found in those who have been brought through trials, by God’s all-sufficient grace. This sense of God’s approval arouses within us abounding “hope”—we might almost say, hopefulness, a hopeful, happy state of soul.

Verse 5: And [our state of] hope does not make us ashamed: because God’s love [for us] is poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. 

Furthermore, then, no matter how much the world or worldly Christians may avoid or deride us, this hopefulness is not “ashamed,” or is not “put to shame”: because there is supplied the inward and wonderful miracle of the consciousness of God’s love shed abroad in our hearts through that second mighty gift of God to us (Christ Himself being the first),—the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Paul now takes up this “love of God” in what is, as regards Gods sheer grace, the highest place in Paul’s epistles. It is the greatest exposition in Scripture of God’s love, as announced in John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that He gave—.”
Ephesians unfolds the marvelous heavenly calling into which God’s grace has brought us. But, as to God’s love itself, what it is, we must come to the present verses of Romans: as John says,
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:10).
First of all, the indwelling Holy Spirit, given freely to all believers, sheds abroad in our hearts this love of God—making us conscious of it in a direct inner witness: and that especially in times of trial or need.


A THREE-FOLD VIEW OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US—SINNERS

Next, we see three stages of our sinnerhood, each connected in a peculiar, fitting, and touching way with God’s love.

1. Verse 6: For Christ,—we being yet helpless [in our sins], at the appointed time died for ungodly ones—

The fact of man’s total moral inability is stated here in the gentlest possible terms. It is a bankruptcy of all moral and spiritual inclination toward God and holiness, as well as of power to be or do good. Yet into a scene of helplessness like this, God sends His Son,—for what? To die for the “ungodly.” No return or response is demanded: it is absolute grace—for the ungodly.

Verse 7: For scarcely for a righteous man will anyone die: though perhaps for a good man some one might even venture to die—

Paul proceeds with his wonderful pean of praise concerning God’s love: Among men, while for a sternly honest man no one would die, yet some one might be found to venture death for a “noble” person, one of generous-hearted goodness. But what of God’s love?

2. Verse 8. God commendeth His own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us—

Now “sinning” is a stronger word than “strengthless”: but it is strong in the wrong direction! Strengthless indeed toward God and holiness, we were all; yet vigorous and active in sin. And what did God do? What does God here say? It was while we were thus sinning that Christ died for us! And thus doth God “commend” His peculiar love toward us. It is most astonishing, this announcement that God is “commending” this love of His for us,—a love “all uncaused by any previous love of ours for Him.”* 

[*“In sovereign grace He rises above the sin, and loves without a motive, save what is in His own nature and part of His glory. Man must have a motive for loving, God has none but in Himself, and ‘commendeth His love to us’ (and the ‘His’ is emphatic as to this very point), in that, while we are yet sinners, Christ died for us; the best thing in heaven that could be given for the vilest, most defiled, and guilty sinners” (Darby).]

Salesmen “commend” their wares to those whom they deem able and willing to buy them. God “commends” His tender love to us; for He loved us as wretches occupied in sin, unable and unwilling to pay Him or obey Him. This is absolute grace.

3. Verse 10: For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the DEATH of His Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved in His LIFE.

Now, “enemies” is a much worse word than either “strengthless” or “sinners”; it involves a personal alienation and animosity. “The mind of the flesh is enmity against God . . . not subject to the law of God, neither, indeed, can it be.” What a condition! And yet, while we were going about avoiding and hating God, that same God was having His Son, Christ, meet all the Divine claims against us by His death on Calvary!

Mark that, while we were enemies, He did this. No change of our hateful attitude was demanded by God before He sent His Son.
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that God loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Grace, brother, grace,—unasked, undesired, and, of course, forever undeserved,—Divine kindness!
“When the kindness of God our Savior, and His love toward man appeared, not by works which we did ourselves, but according to His mercy. He saved us.”
Here, then, whoever you are, read your record: strengthless, sinning, hating: then you can begin to conceive of, if you will believe, this sovereign, uncaused love which God here in this great passage “commends” to you. Do not try to be “worthy” of it; for offers to pay, by an utter bankrupt, are not only worthless, but an insult to grace! Self-righteousness seeks to discover in itself some cause for that Divine favor that God declares has its only source in Himself and His love. “Strengthless”—“sinners”—“enemies”—such were we all, and God sent His Son to die for us as such!

Now let us not dare try to get God to be reconciled to us through our prayers, our consecration, our works. We were reconciled to God while His enemies, through the death of His Son. One who has believed is overwhelmed to find that this reconciliation was effected while he himself was an enemy to God; and so the “much more” gets hold of his heart: I was reconciled by His death while I was an enemy: how much rather, now that I have accepted this reconciliation and share Christ’s own risen life, shall God pour His salvation-favor upon me! I was an enemy then, and God gave Christ for me; now that I am God’s friend, He cannot do less!

This is the important thing to see, in the matter or reconciliation: it was necessary for us to be reconciled to God Himself, to that holiness and righteousness in God, that was infinitely against sin. This was brought about in Christ’s death.

So, we read,
“God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (II Cor. 5:19).
“While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.”
All sin is contrary to God’s holiness, righteousness, truth, and glory, but sin was put by God on Christ, and God “spared Him not.” And now God says to His messengers: “Go be ambassadors on behalf of Christ. Tell sinners that I have smitten Him instead of them. Tell them I forsook Him on the cross, that I might not forsake them forever!

THE FOUR “MUCH MORES”

There are in this remarkable chapter four “much mores” which it is interesting and profitable to note. Two are in this first section; and two in the second. First, we have the two “much mores” of future safety; verses 9 and 10; then the two “much mores” of grace’s abundance: verses 15 and 17, which are developed in the other section of the chapter.

Verse 9: Much more then, having been now declared righteous by [means of] His blood, shall we be saved through Him from the [coming] wrath—

God has done the harder thing: He will do the easier thing. He has had Christ die for us while we were “yet sinners”; “much more” will He see that we, being now believers and accounted righteous in view of Christ’s blood, shall be saved from the coming wrath through Him (Christ).

Notice that shed blood is the justifying ground, the procuring cause, of our being accounted righteous; and that instead of our being uncertain of preservation from the wrath which is coming at the Last Judgment, the fact that Christ died for us while were were still sinners should give us a constant state of calm security!

Verse 10: Much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by His [risen] life—

Again, God has done the harder thing—delivering Christ to death to reconcile us to Himself. He will certainly—much more! do the lesser thing for us: He will see that we share Christ’s risen life forever; and thus, even in the hour of visitation upon the wicked, we shall be “saved by His life.” (This will more fully come out in Chapter Eight, where the blessed Spirit supplies that life which is in Christ to us, as a very “law of life.”)

We were reconciled to God by God’s having Christ meet in His death all the claims of His throne,—His majesty, His holiness, His righteousness, His truth. “Much more,” being from our side reconciled, shall we be saved now and in the future by and in Christ’s risen life which we now share!

This “saved by His life” evidently looks forward to the coming Day of Judgment referred to in verse 9 as the coming wrath, into which judgment our Lord has told us we shall not come (John 5:24). Indeed, Paul writes in I Thessalonians 1:10,—
“Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come”!
And now the apostle closes up this section of the Epistle with a note of highest exultation:

Verse 11: And not only so, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation—

He says. We exult in God. How great a change! Three chapters back, we were sitting in the Divine Judge’s court, guilty—our mouths stopped, and all our works rejected! Now,
“through our Lord Jesus Christ”
and His work for us, we are rejoicing, exulting, in Him who was our Judge! This is what grace can do and does! And we see that it is simply by receiving the reconciliation that has been brought in by Christ. For the word here is not “atonement,” which means to cover up, and is applied to the Old Testament sacrifices. The word reconciliation here (katallaga) is simply the noun form of the verb “reconcile,” in verse 10. Compare
“God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses (II Cor. 5:19).
To “receive” a complete, accomplished reconciliation,—how simple! We have seen men and women exult in God, thus! Every believer has this great right of exultation. This is a “song of the Lord” that lasts forever—“through our Lord Jesus Christ” . . . 

. . . Verse 18: So then, just as [the principle was] through one trespass unto all men to condemnation; even so also through one righteous [or justifying] act [the principle is] unto all men to justification of life! Through one trespass [it was] unto all men to condemnation—

The expression “the many” in verses 15 and 19 indicates the principle of the evil effect of the act of the one going forth to others; the expression “all men,” of verse 18, emphasizes the extent of the application of that principle: absolutely all human beings were condemned when Adam sinned.

Now do not question either God’s right or His wisdom here, or His love. He had the right to have a judgment day of our whole race in Eden, in our head, Adam; and He did so. He always does right. Furthermore, He knew that creatures would ever fail,—there is no sufficiency in the creature, but only in the Creator. You and I would fail, as did Adam! and God desired that believers should be secure forever, by Christ’s work. It was in love He held that judgment day in Eden. In love He judged us, condemned us, in our federal head, Adam, that He might justify us in the work and Person of the other federal Head, Christ!

The ordinary conception of justification does not go beyond the pardon of sin. This indeed is first; and we should also have confidence that our sins will never be reckoned against us—whether they be past, present, or future sins. This is seen in Chapter 4:7, 8; and in Chapter 5:9, we see ourselves “justified in His blood,” “justified from all things,” as Paul says in Acts 13:39. But this leaves the believer without a positive standing. We do not come to “justification of life”* until Chapter 5:18.

[*The expression “justification of life” seems to stand over against that condemnation and death which came by Adam’s trespass. It is a characterizing word: What is offered unto all men, through Christ’s act of righteousness at the cross is not only a cancellation of guilt, but life in the Risen One. For, since Adam’s sin, there was only spiritual death in his race. The words of John 1:4, regarding Christ, “In Him was life,” describe the only source of life for man. And justification must be of life: for those justified are most certainly taken, out of their place of death in Adam, and given a place of life in Christ.] 

Now it is Christ Risen who is made our “standing”: so that, as we see else where, we do not need aught else: for we are in Christ. Justification provides therefore not only release from the penalty of sin, but also a place in the Risen Christ Himself. This begins to be indicated in Chapter Four, where righteousness is reckoned to those who
“believe on Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.”
It is, of course, necessarily comprehended in the astonishing phrase IN CHRIST JESUS,—used first in Chapter 6:11! And it is amplified and developed through the rest of Paul’s epistles. In I Corinthians 1:30 we see that Christ Himself, Risen, was made unto the believer, righteousness. Paul also in Galatians 2:20, 21 directly connects his having been “crucified with Christ” with righteousness. That is, the history in Adam of believers was ended at the cross. (Yet always remember that it was as ungodly ones that they believed!)

In Colossians 1:12 we read:
“Giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Then hear again that most stupendous utterance of all:
“Him who knew no sin He made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (II Cor. 5:21).
It is this glorious revelation, which men have been loathe to read, teach, or refer to, which we must apprehend by God’s grace, and by that grace believe!

Now, how, in what sense, are we “the righteousness of God” in Christ?

It is at once evident that to set us in His own presence in Christ as He has done, God must ( I ) reckon to us the infinitely perfect expiation of Christ in putting away our sin by His blood; (2) make us one with Christ in His death; and (3) place us in Christ Risen, even as Christ is received before Him. All this He has done; so that He says we are the righteousness of God in Christ. If we are in Christ, we are before God in Christ, “even as He,”—“accepted in Him.”

William R. Newell




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Philippians 4      Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.   I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.      Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.    Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.      Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.   Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are ...
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"The shed blood on the Day of Atonement witnessed that a death had taken place.

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The person for whom the blood was shed could not approach or stand for a moment in the presence of the infinitely holy God. When the high priest came in before Jehovah on the Great Day of atonement, carrying the basin containing the poured out life blood of the slain goat, he swung the censer, and the cloud of incense filled the holy of holies, covering from all human sight or approach, the mercy-seat where dwelt, upon the cherubim, the Shekinah Presence of God. He approaches and sprinkles the blood upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat seven times, and retires. Now, what does this witness? Not an angry, vengeful God, but infinitely the opposite—One who would send  the Son of His bosom as the spotless Lamb  to pour out His blood for us sinners, and then ascend to His God and Father,—and, unspeakable grace, now our God and Father also! But, this laid-down-life witnesses that all approach to God on our personal part is impossible forever! To be made nigh unto God  ...
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"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18

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Proverbs 4 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; an...
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"but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Isaiah 66:2

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Isaiah 66  Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you,...
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"It is written..." Luke 4:4

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Luke 4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a ...
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"The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." Isaiah 2:11

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Isaiah 2    The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are ...
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"In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:11-12

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For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Hi...
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"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13

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Proverbs 28 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them. Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father. He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but th...
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Exposition on select Bible verses: Romans 1:18-19

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[ Romans 1 ] Verse 18: Wrath revealed from heaven— This is the tenor of all Scripture as to God’s attitude toward defiant sin. “Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from  Jehovah out of heaven,”  we read in Genesis 19:24. We know that “God has appointed a day in which He will judge the world” (Acts 17:31) ; that He will “visit with wrath” at that time (Rom. 3:5). However, in the thrice-repeated “God gave them over” of verses 24, 26 and 28, there is to be seen the character, the beginning, and the working of God’s wrath in this world , in His judicial handing over of rebels to go further into rebellion. But the awful arraignment of humanity in Chapters One, Two, and Three; together with the particular account of their apostasy and lost condition, however terrible it be, is not a description of the finally damned, but of the at-present-lost: and, “The Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” “Such were some of you...
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I'm a Christian saved by God, by His Sovereign grace. I want to encourage all to read, to hear, to believe, and to feed upon the only Words in all the world that are truly spirit and life, living and active; to know the One True God: God the Father, His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit; Who has graciously given us the Holy Scriptures
“All Scripture is God-breathed..."
2 Timothy 3:16–17; cf., John 3:31-36; John 6:63; John 14:26; John 17:3, 17; Romans 1:1-6, 16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Hebrews 4:12-13. As for the commentaries I post and refer to; with much gratitude, as they have done for me, it is my hope and prayer that they serve to edify all who read them.

Shalom, beccaj
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